Roo, Chihuahua born with no front legs, gets mobility cart

Pima Animal Care Center officials announced Friday that Roo, a Chihuahua born with no front legs and one of 40 small-breed dogs saved from a hoarding house on Sept. 4 by its enforcement division, has received a mobility cart to help her roll. The little wheelchair – as well as the costly hip surgery that Roo will need once she is fully comfortable using her cart – was made possible by community donations to PACC’s nonprofit partner, the Friends of PACC.

PACC’s Medical Team believes Roo was born this way because of inbreeding in her former home. The mobility cart, as well as the eventual hip surgery that will be performed by orthopedic specialists from Veterinary Specialty Center of Tucson, will allow Roo to lead a full and healthy life.

Roo is not yet available for adoption and cannot be reserved for adoption. She must stay in foster care until she is fully cart-savvy and healed from her hip surgery. Her foster mom, Joanne Carrillo, is also a staff member in PACC’s new Pet Support Center, a phone bank dedicated to helping people keep their pets. Roo often comes to work with Joanne, who says that fostering a special-needs pet is a very rewarding experience.

“It’s so rewarding to see her flourish and open up and have the opportunity to be a dog,” said Carrillo, who gives Roo two hours of cart time every day.

While Roo is not yet up for adoption, PACC officials said if Roo could talk, she would encourage the community to foster a special needs pet like her, or adopt one of the more than 400 dogs and 300 cats currently waiting at PACC’s shelter, 4000 N. Silverbell Rd., and its offsite PetSmart adoption locations.